This Full House

If You Give a Momblogger a Digital Camera: A Study in Black and White

[Yes, I am STILL Soliciting Comments for Charity:  Okay, so I'm BLOGGING OUT HUNGER and totally willing to beg for someone else's food, this week - I know I'm no Dooce, but won't you consider helping reach my goal of 300 comments, for charity, even for a Dork, like me?]

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It finally started to snow here in Jersey, just the other day -- I know, my Seattle and Midwest friends have plenty that they are probably more than willing to share, even -- and, since Santa Claus didn't bring me the really cool camera I've been wanting (honestly, I was happy he remembered the kids) look what I did with a little Envy:

Cabin Fever:  On the first day of Christmas vacation, it started to really snow and Thing Two thought it sucked that it happened, smack dab in the middle of her recovery and I (seeing as, I am the meanest mom in the world) wouldn't let her go outside...dammit!

 
Garden Fairy:  As she screams, "It's frickin' freezing out here, Mr. Bigglesworth!"


He's A Little Bit Pointer, Dog:  Pointing out the fact that he looks way better in the down vest, that my mother gave me last Christmas, than I do...dammit!


Smile Doofus-Dog:  I swear, he's a REAL camera hound!


World's Largest Snowball:  Actually, it's snow-encrusted basketball...but, you won't tell anyone...right!?!?


Sit Doofus, Sit:  He actually thinks Thing One's gonna throw it!?!?


Wii Love the Snow...NOT:  Don't worry (The Boy announced he hates snow since, you know, we got the Wii) with the magic of Picnik.com, mommy can make it snow anytime, anywhere, too!

Imagine, what I could do with a REAL grown up camera!?!?

[shudder]

I blame Ashton Kutcher, who truly makes digital photography look cool (and pretty) even for a dork, like me.

[heavy sigh]

Ah well, thank goodness for Flickr!

© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

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This is where I pimp my stuff:  I run a column at the Imperfect Parent (I don't know how that happened, either) this month, I'm talking about the value of Mini-Sleepovers.  Oh, and fresh from the garden state, read how I'm raising teenagers with my eyes wide shut.  Also, do you hate food shopping?  EXCELLENT!  Me, too. But, I recently received an electronic grocery list organizer that is fun AND practical.  Want one?

Blogging Out Hunger: So, I Got Stop & Shop To Do Their Part, Now It's Your Turn!!!

[Edited to Add: Okay, so I'm totally willing to beg for someone else's food, this week - I know I'm no Dooce, but won't you consider helping reach my goal of 300 comments, for charity, even for a Dork, like me?]

Last week, over 100 of my blogging friends and I got together and blogged about the This Bank Can't Fail campaign (spearheaded by my blogging friend and fellow Jersey Girl Deborah Smith of JerseyBites.com) to Blogging Out Hunger on behalf of The Community Food Bank of New Jersey and families in need across the garden state.

Growing up ours was no stranger to hunger.

Okay, let's be honest, what's the diff -- what about the rest of the year -- what's so special about blogging and who listens to Mommybloggers, anyway?

[bites lower lip]

Well, I asked my friends at Stop & Shop if they would like to help sponsor This Full House with a call out for donations in support of Blogging Out Hunger and they seemed to feel that it's, you know, a pretty good idea.

Aaaand, here's the good part, there's a way you (yes, YOU!) oh, savvy Internets, can help.

How?

[grin]

Why, by doing what you do best...of course!!!

Blogging Out Hunger: Campaign Launch - We Can't Let This Bank Fail!

It was 1946 and Hungary, as nearly all of Europe, was devastated by World War II, including the small hamlet where my mother attended kindergarten.  My mother's earliest childhood memories -- one of a very few that she will even speak of, I mean -- is the day the Americans shipped a case of peanut butter to her school. 

Each child was asked to line up and receive his, or her ration of peanut butter and then it was my mother's turn.

"Eva, where is your bread?"

My mother shyly whispered into her ear that she didn't have any -- the bakery ran out of their allotment of bread, earlier that morning.

"Well, what am I supposed to spread the peanut butter on, the palm of your hand?"

Growing up, we were used to hearing such stories at the dinner table  -- how, even in a big city like Budapest, my father was forced to steal to feed his younger siblings -- I don't think that my twin brother and I ever really understood how difficult it was for my parents.

Until, I got older and started raising a family of my own.

Today, I'm not ashamed to admit that we lived a frugal life and that my parents chose to accept the charity of strangers, to ensure that their children would never know that kind of hunger.

Today marks the official launch of This Bank Can't Fail campaign and I'm very proud to be joining forces with my blogging friend and fellow Jersey Girl Deborah Smith of JerseyBites.com, who has taken on the huge task of coordinating the Blogging Out Hunger on behalf of The Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

Why?

Blogging Out Hunger: We Can't Let This Bank Fail!

My blogging friend and fellow Jersey Girl Deborah Smith of JerseyBites.com is coordinating a blogging campaign on behalf of The Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

This Bank Can't Fail is scheduled to launch December 15th.

The goal is to get 100 New Jersey bloggers spreading the word about the desperate need that The Community Food Bank of New Jersey is in due to the increased demands being put on New Jersey food pantries.

Why?

Because, blogging can be a beautiful thing and the keyboard is mightier than the sword, or something like that.

You from Joisey - did I mention, Bruce Springsteen is doing his part to help?

Summer's almost over, time to cram for school!

Dune baby, dune baby, give me a smile -- or, not.

In less than 2 weeks, our summer will be over and -- having directed nearly all of my attentions to raising kids and killer dust bunnies, for the last 15 years -- perhaps you'd be surprised, as I am, to learn that I haven't done a gosh-darned thing to get the kids ready for back-to-school.

Besides, doing nothing....I mean.

My husband, Garth (not his real name) and I have been busy -- although, taking a quick look outside -- you really couldn't tell.

We've slowly been mowing, planting, weeding and transplanting our way through the seemingly endless amount of chores that come with having a big backyard.  Not to mention, keeping our house from falling down and crashing into our 100-year-old neighbor's immaculately kept lawn.

Yeah, you heard right -- she's turning 100, next month -- so, where do we get off feeling so tired, all the time?

I'm going because BlogHer is working for ME, now!

I love this picture - it was taken during an evening excursion on the Navy Pier and sampling of some mighty fine fried dough during the BlogHer Conference in Chicago, last summer - and this is, like, the third time I've taken the liberty of showing the Internets....Dana grabbing my ass!

RELAX!

We were being careful - because, you know that this sort of act can get you arrested in some states - and were vigilant about keeping our clothes on for pretty much the entire time.

Even, when we slept together!

PBN Blog Blast: All I want for Mother's Day

The Parent Bloggers Network has teamed up with Johnson and Johnson to promote their new charitable giving site, Johnson’s Baby Cause, powered by Global Giving.

As part of their responsibility to the global community, Johnson’s has hand-selected dozens of charities around the world that mirror their deep commitment to caring for the health and well-being of mothers and children - not just on Mother’s Day, but every day of the year.

This is the 100th Anniversary of Mother's Day and my 15th year of raising kids -- not to mention, killer dust bunnies -- in this mother-loving world of comfortable running shoes and matching hoodies.

So, as a mother of a teen, a tween, a precocious 1st grader and The Boy who refuses to admit he is NOT getting a brother for Christmas, what could I possibly want for Mother's Day?

You know you're from Jersey, if....

Having been born, grown up and now raising a family of my own (and blogging about it) in New Jersey (what, you too...SHUT up!) I've pretty much heard it all.  Still.  You may be surprised to learn, however, just how difficult it can be, listening to jokes about why we're called "The Garden State" because, it's too hard to fit "Oil and Petro-Chemical Refinery State" on a license plate, etc...

[rolls eyes]

So, New Jersey has a lot of chemical companies; I get that.  Hell, I used to work with a couple of them - way before children - forgive me, but the assumption that moving here would be less than desirable, by anyone who refuses to take a look-see beyond the Turnpike tolls, you know, upsets me.

Or, in more Jersey-type terms...it friggin' frosts my ass, people!

So, You From Joisey?

[This is an original New Jersey Moms Blog post - newest sister site to Silicon Valley Moms Blog - cross-posted here to This Full House and yes, I am VERY HAPPY to be their first contributing blogger!]

Contrary to what other people may have told you - especially, if you've ever watched the opening credits of The Sopranos - there are some very pretty places to visit here in New Jersey, if you're willing to travel beyond the toll booths outside of New York City and away from the factories lining both sides of the New Jersey Turnpike.

It's not called the Garden State for nothin,' you know.

This Full House Kids: The birth of a family blogging project.

It's a girl...a girl...a boy...and a girl!

I am pleased to announce the birth of This Full House Kids - yep, we have added yet ANOTHER blog to our menu and I know what you're thinking...yes, I DO...because, it's probably the same thing that my husband, Garth (not his real name) is wondering and I ask myself, all the time, too.

Holy Hannah Montana...WOMAN...what WERE you thinking?